Weld Test Stand

[erikmannie]

I won’t have any pictures until this afternoon, but I am working on a weld test stand made mostly out of black pipe.

So far, I have spent about $150.00 on materials, & I need to go buy a few more nuts & bolts. I am incorporating some scrap on hand for the base & T-handles.

I will be able to do flat, horizontal, vertical and overhead on sheet & plate, as well as 5G & 6G on pipe & tubing. I cannot do 1G or 2G because there is no spool on this weld test stand. I have no plans to add a spool.

 

[erikmannie]

Yesterday I made 5 sleeves on my big lathe, faced 3 bolts using the 5C collet on my little lathe, drilled 1/2” holes in the sleeves & milled 3 nuts on my little mill, & welded 3 nuts & 2 plates on to 3 sleeves with 3/32” 6010 at 77A.

Today I will flap disk the extensive spatter off of the plates, get the last 2 nuts on the sleeves, shorten 5 bolts (the lathe is so good for this, getting bolts to exactly the desired length), prep & weld on 5 T-handles, weld the 3 “arms” on to their sleeves (including coping the pipe), & figure out how to attach pipe coupons to the test stand.

I also need to drill two 1/2” holes in the 3/8” plate. At that point, I will weld on 4 nuts. These are used to clamp on rectangular welding coupons (either sheet or plate). This will necessitate the fabrication of two more T-handled bolts.

I am running out of mild steel round stock for the T-handles. I have some stainless (actually mystery metal) round stock & 309L stick electrodes; I will use those to weld the SS round stock to Grade 8 bolts.

 

[erikmannie]

I lied. Here is a picture now:

 

[brino]

I am "watching"..... looking forward to see how it comes together.
Brian

 

[erikmannie]

I am "watching"..... looking forward to see how it comes together.
Brian

Thanks for your interest. I am off to the steelyard to buy more nuts, bolts and some proper round stock for my T-handles.

 

[erikmannie]

After spending the morning working with wood, I am happy to be working with metal now.

So far, I have faced down Grade 8 nuts and bolts because I’m going to weld on these.

 

[erikmannie]

Ready to have nuts welded on to them!

 

[erikmannie]

3/32” E6010 at 77A. I love 6010 because I don’t have to be so fastidious about cleaning the base metal, and it penetrates like no other!

Note that the slag is still on there.

 

[benmychree]

Are you planning on embarking on a new career?

 

[erikmannie]

Are you planning on embarking on a new career?

No. I will work as a UPS driver until I retire (9+ years more). I weld & machine just for fun. I definitely have nothing else going on!

It took an hour and a half to make 7 T-handles: